For years now July has never been an incredible month for gaming. It seems July is always slated as the calm before the storm as the late August rush and September madness are still a month away. Though of course that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t expect any games to be released in July as we have a few Summer of Arcade games and a new Test Drive (who knew?). Apart from that, pickens are slim.
The Walking Dead – Episode 2
Release Date: ???
Developer: Telltale Games
There isn’t a confirmed current date for the next episode of The Walking Dead episode 2 (entitled “Starved for Help”) but all signs point to it being released in July as previously it was expected to appear in late June. I for one absolutely loved the first episode, being a huge fan of the TV series but having never read the comic, I was starving for more Walking Dead once the second season concluded. Thankfully I was nurtured well as The Walking Dead delivered a fantastic story with innovating adventure game mechanics that make it more accessible than previous games in the genre. The deep and lovable characters obviously didn’t hurt the game, either.
I don’t expect episode 2 of this series to innovate much further but at this point I would pay twenty dollars just for more of the interactive story. In a year where there haven’t been too many groundbreaking games, I consider The Walking Dead episode 1 among one of the best. While that does set up some lofty expectations for the next episode, I have my full faith placed into Telltale to deliver.
Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends
Release Date: July 3rd
Developer: Slightly Mad Studios
This may you surprise you (probably won’t) but I have never been a Test Drive fan. That being said I’ve never played a Test Drive game apart from Test Drive: Unlimited. While my opinion of the franchise is obviously skewed, it seems if you liked previous Test Drive games and enjoy a good Ferrari, you may like this upcoming one. In it you will drive many Ferrari’s, both old and new. Slightly Mad Studios previously worked on the Need for Speed: Shift series and have said the damage in Test Drive will be modeled off their damage work they did on Shift.
NCAA Football 13
Release Date: July 10th
Developer: EA Tiburon
I am that guy that buys the new NCAA Football and Madden games every year. I also follow college football and college football recruiting very closely and have been dying for changes to the recruiting in the dynasty mode for years and have finally been obliged. From things I’ve read, the changes do not seem to be entirely there, sadly but only time will tell on that fact. Expect a preview in the coming days and when the game is released a full review.
Tony Hawk: Pro Skater HD
Release Date: July 18th
Developer: Robomodo
This HD remake harkens back to the older days of Tony Hawk when people were flipping tricks (get it?) over Tony Hawk at every turn. We wondered for a while when Pro Skater HD would release but Major Nelson announced a week ago that it would finally grind (get it?) onto your console July 18th. Within Pro Skater you’ll dodge and try to aVERT (get it?) danger as you progress along on your way to… skate. Thank God I’m not reviewing this game as it would just be the previous paragraph times ten.
Wreckateer
Release Date: July 25th
Developer: Iron Galaxy Studio
What was shown at E3 was the first I had seen of Wreckateer and what I picked up is that it seems to be Angry Birds with a twist. The twist being Kinect support as you attempt to pull back a catapult and launch items at a castle you’ve been assigned to destroy. To do so, you have to kill all the goblins within it with many different projectiles varying from a split shot (shot that splits into four other shots) to a Flying Shot (shot that increases in speed as it flies further). Wreckateer is also the second game released in the Summer of Arcade so I’m not ready to write it off just yet but I’m definitely not convinced on Wreckateer.
Also releasing:
Ice Age: Continental Drift – Artic Games (July 10th)
Adidas miCoach (July 24th)
The Last Story (July 31st)
Double Dragon: Neon (July 31st) (Expect a preview of this here soon)